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. 312 17th .eet Denver 2, Colorado. J;ar(,h 4, 1854. (,~ 'f~. if ,:FOK -ATION SLETTER 16 "0. 8 . Dear Subsoriborl The plight of dust- and droltth-stricken oastorD und southeastern oounty fanners tlas a priIr.e subjeot of' stuto-wide Colorado attention t!lis past week. 'I.hila Gn~NS of tho first pD.rt (f I;he \"Jo~~k VJere e !ilif~saver\f # much !:'lore was noeded, and ~e6kend weot~or prediotionb of more procipitation were hailed. Lt. Governor Gordon Allctt, 6ent by Governor Thornton to Llake a sur"ey of an area whioh he knows thoroughly (he oomes from Lamar) reported a disaster, similar or W~rse to the disaster of' the 30's, and sought in strong terms immediate and direot aid. A State Capitol oonference was held by Governor Thornton with top Republican party leaders. The conScdn~~6 was that the farmer would have to depend on himself for aid; that fade~al aid in the form of loans would be available. Nn special session of the legislature wa6 planned to deal with this problam. M..1ch criticism was levelled at the so-called "suitcas,e" farmers -- absentl's owners -- who attracted by the high prices for wheat of the latter 40's, got land, hired farmers, and exploited the land while themsffiyes in another state and another business. County oommissioners were reminded of the law passed by the legislature in 1951 to step in where land was being exploited, and take Over---a law which has never been invoked. Commissioners replied that tile law in effeot wovld have made them partners, responsible for the business. Gov. Thornton was asked at a meeting of representatives of federal. and state agricultural agenclies, farm groups, wheat and cattle grcwers to request $1 million in federal aid. The money would be used to pay ~p to 30 cents an acre the cost of ohiseling and listing farm lands to hold dawn topsoil struck by winds. Land- owners would pay the rest, borrowing, ir need be, fram farmers home administration or private souroes. It was estimated that at least 3 million acres in seven southeastern counties alone would have to be listed 0r ohiseled. Cost was estimated at an average or 60 oents an acre. As the week wore on, the drouth spread into Colorado's mountain areas....... In signing the truck tax bill---the most controversial of the measures passed at the last legislature ---Governor Thornton poihted out it was not a oure-all, and not perfeot. He suggested lower registration fees for the trucks; differentiation betvleen truck license plates where truokers pay on a quarterly basis; exemption of equipment used by politioal subdivisions ror maintenance wor~. Meanwhile, a joint sta t~nent by Ed Reilly and Cris Cross, top Colorado Motor Carriers Assooiation officials, in their association magazine, charged an emotion-laden legislat'ive atmosphere and the whipping up of popular and legislative reeling by the Denver press as prime reasons for their defeat. There would be future days of reckoning, their statement said. It was expect- ed that more would be heard from this quarter....... ----------------------------------------------- I ') tl A eolorado meeting of seve~al top AEC'men has been slated for the first part of this month, Hobert Palmer, Coloarllldo Mining Association secretary, anr..ounoed.... County Assessors Assooiation Ira Van Dreal and D0nver's Mayor Newton an- nounced they were still considering tho ad~isability of usking voters to petition for repeal of tra household tax......... Renewe~' pleas for intra-stute harmony were made by Colorado leaders in discussin$ the state's water Froblems....... ,/ . 2594